NY Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver Must Go

With revelations of Assemblyman Vito Lopez's unsavory and sexually harassing conduct towards multiple women during his time in office, he is set to become the third New York Assemblyman to be charged, or resign, due to some form of ethical misconduct this calendar year. All of them downstate Democrats.

And that is not including State Senator Malcolm Smith who wanted to buy his way into the Mayoral GOP Primary and bribed several party officials with the help of a City Councilman.

All of the Assembly cases have brought scrutiny to longtime Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who has controlled the lower branch of Albany for almost two decades now and is virtually untouchable due to 19 years of accumulated power, typical old time party boss intimidation and control of the taxpayer's purse strings.

But Vito Lopez is the last straw. Not only did Speaker Silver cover for his old political ally, he authorized $100,000 in taxpayer funds be paid confidentially to two former female staffers who spoke up about Mr. Lopez's inner-office activities. Essentially our tax dollars paid to cover up for Vito's sexual harassment... I feel proud to be a New Yorker now.

Not only is it time for the pig Vito to be kicked out (screw resigning, expel the creep), but it's time for the Democratic controlled Assembly to release themselves from the grip of Sheldon and stop the horrific and never ending flow of corruption stemming from the speaker's office in Albany. And since Democrats hold two-thirds majority, Republicans can do little more than demand complain - it's all in the Democrats court and they have to step up to the plate.

Even the New York Times agrees: It's time to say goodbye Sheldon Silver.

What say you?

Caption of the Day

Sums up the President's excuse for Fast and Furious, Benghazi, the IRS, and bugging the AP:

Civility: New Democrat Ad in MA Has Gun Firing at Republican's Head

Sometimes when people on the Left talk about dog whistles, it seems far too forced. However, there are occasional times when you can see a clear subliminal message underlying the overt one.

Take the contested Massachusetts Senate race that pits 38 year veteran of Congress Ed Markey against former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez. Gomez rejects many of the gun control arguments, including the ban on high capacity magazines.

In response, Markey has put out this very over the top (but perhaps fitting for the state) ad:

Got the symbolism? Gomez supports school shootings!

Meanwhile, this image shows an automoatic weapon firing multiple rounds towards Republican Gabriel Gomez's head.

As if that's not bad enough, remember when the Left was in hysterics about this map that Sarah Palin's PAC put out:

Considering this was decried as some exhortation to violence, what would the above message show? Nothing to see here, folks.

20 to 25 Injured as Connecticut Commuter Trains Collide near Fairfield, May 17, 2013

From Fox News:

A New York-area commuter railroad says two trains have collided in Connecticut. Police say that 20 or more people were injured, but that there were no fatalities.

The Metro-North Railroad says emergency workers are arriving at the scene of Friday's accident. The rail line referred to it in a news release as a "major derailment."

Fairfield Police Officer Matt Panilaitis says 20 to 25 people were injured. He says there were no fatalities.

Russia Increases Aid & Support to Assad Regime

HT: BBC

After weeks of a 21st century version detente between Washington and Moscow over the declining state of affairs in Syria, and possibly looking at a joint situation to the ongoing civil war that has gripped the nation, it appears Russia has decided to stop cooperating and continue supplying their allies within the Assad regime.

According to two U.S. media reports: Russia has deployed at least a dozen warships to its Mediterranean  Naval base in the Syrian City of Tartus and sent a large shipment of anti-ship missiles to the Assad regime, which could be used to defend against any potential sea based foreign intervention.

Both movements should cause serious concern in Washington: as they indicate a seemingly overnight about face by Moscow in regards to the Syrian civil war. While a week ago they were willing to discuss a peace-based solution to the all consuming crisis, now they are taking steps to both embolden the Assad regime and tell the world they are not giving up their presence in the Mediterranean.

None of which is helpful considering the latest statistics from the United Nations: 80,000 dead, 4.5 million displaced within Syria and 1.5 million registered refugees who have fled the civil war, with likely more who have not registered with authorities in Lebanon, Jordan or Turkey. Add in the use of chemical weapons..... And Syria is the world's grandest clusterfuck right now.

I really do not know what the Western solution is, because we cannot sit idly by any longer and allow these unconscionable actions to continue, but to really want to risk a proxy war with Russia and Iran? Decisions, decisions...

What say you?

Audio: IRS Asked Tea Party Leader for User Database Access to Group's Website